Sewing Up a Great Fourth of July

We're updating our Idea Wall in the store with Christmas in July ideas to help everyone get their holiday sewing off to a great start next month.

And since there's a lull in the class schedule while next month's preparations are made, we thought we'd bring you some last minute ideas for your fourth of July holiday. So here's just a sampling of  inspiration and ideas from around the net to make your fourth sparkle:

Need a casserole carrier? We found this tutorial here.

Decorations are great and the Aesthetic Nest Blog has a great Fourth of July post covering napkin rings, table runners, and garlands to sew and hang for your fourth picnic.

And for a whimsical set of placemats how about these from A Spoonful of Sugar Designs made with the pockets off of old blue jeans for cutlery holders? Be sure to have some denim needles on hand for this project and make sure your machine is set for heavy fabric!

Have a safe and lovely holiday and join us for our Christmas in July festivities next month!

Snowman Redwork Quilt Coming Soon

Join us for a Class!

This summer is just getting better with all the great new classes we have in the works. In this post we'd like to highlight a couple that you do not want to miss---the first is on July 23rd and is the Double Diamond Tote class. This bag features the double diamond technique on the front along with a decorative twisted handle. The bag is large enough to accommodate a whole market day of purchases! What a lovely gift it would make if you're planning on getting started on your holiday gift sewing early this year.

The other class that everyone is looking forward to is the Wildflower Embroidered Quilt class. This is a Smith Street design and features all those lovely wildflowers you find in Michigan woods and meadows. You can almost smell the beautiful Tiger Lilies, Jack in the Pulpits, and Trilliums. Join us beginning in August for this really outstanding project. View our whole class project here. And don't forget to finish those unfinished projects and get them in for credit! 

 

New Classes at Kalamazoo Sewing Center

We've just added a new quilting and embroidery class to our schedule---the Wildflower Embroidered Quilt. In this class you'll create a beautiful quilt that features the gorgeous wildflowers growing in the Michigan woods like Jack in the Pulpit, Trillium, and Coneflower. We are so excited to offer this long awaited class. It begins in August but you must register in advance so come see us as soon as possible to register before the class is filled up.

There's a great sale on Singer Sewing Machines. We have some great models that great gifts for Father's Day---men are really getting into sewing today! A sewing machine also makes a great wedding or baby shower gift---it's the gift that keeps on giving and will give years of service. Give the Singer tradition of excellence and the recipient even gets a free class to learn how to use the new gift!

 And don't forget about the Hoop Sister's Feathered Star Quilt Class. Call today---the spots are going fast on this great quilt!

Kalamazoo Sewing Center Events

Spring is finally here!

Our event Toolin Around was a great success on Friday!  Thanks to all that attended!  I know that I have two pages of notes and class ideas and I didn't get to sit in on the whole thing!

Floriani Non-Standard Thread Colors!

We have a limited supply, of non-standard Floriani thread colors in the store while supplies last!  These are new colors that are not currently held on the spinner rack!  If you have pre-signed up for the Primitative Snowman class some of these are the "special" threads for that project!

Classes for the rest of May!

May 16, Towels & More, 1-4.  This month Trena is doing the Golf or Retro BBQ embroidery disks.  Come see the great samples!

May 17, Garden Patch Cats Show-N-Tell, 1-4.  Bring your blocks or quilts and lets see how your 24 different cats turned out!

May 20, Stitchers Garden, 1-4.  This is the new group and you will be working on block 2!

May 21, Four Corners Apron, 1-4.  Come make this adorable apron with Rosemary!  The sample is up and stunning!

May 23, Feels Like Spring, 10-4.  this is the last session of this quilt and they are coming along very nicely!  Can't wait to see the finished products!

May 24, 5D U Create it, 1-4.  You asked for a July 4th design and I did it!  Come to class and I will teach you to do it yourself with the software!

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Why buy a Serger? Top Reasons

Sergers can appear intimidating to even the most seasoned and experienced sewing enthusiast. But if you've been wondering how a serger can enhance your sewing and bring it to a new level of professionalism, there has never been a better time to come see us for a demonstration and to test drive a model right here in the store.


Seam finishing is one item that a professional garment has that home sewing enthusiasts may overlook. Finished edges ensure that the inner edges of your garment won't unravel with the wash, creating a garment that is scratchy and uncomfortable to wear, at risk of coming apart, or just unsightly inside. Without a serger the process of finishing the edges can be quite time consuming. Besides stitching the seam together, the seam's edges must be stitched separately. A serger does everything in one step---trimming the edges to make everything neat and made to last through many washes and wears.

But a serger's convenience doesn't end there. You know those edges on store bought linens---napkins, tableclothes, and scarves? Well a serger does those easily and efficiently also. It does a superior job feeding and stitching knits because it can do the job with a differential feed with less trouble than a regular sewing machine.


Have you ever had a topstitch that didn't have enough stretch in it, making a garment fit improperly? Well a serger can help out with this issue too---with topstitching that is more elastic, more giving that a regular sewing machine.

Need to sew some piping? The serger has a particularly special knack with piping---perfect everytime.

Have you ever looked at a quilt top and  thought "tablecloth" but thought about how all the pieced seams would appear on the backside?  Piece the quilt together using a serger and the backside will look neat and finished.

And with all the special feet that are available you can add some elastic, a blind hem, or some really special embellishments to your projects.

With so much versatility, you'll wonder how you ever did without a serger in your home sewing studio! Come see us today---for a limited time select sergers come with free luggage to carry them to and from the free classes that come with a purchase from us. We'll take the guess work out of threading, teach you how to get the most out of your machine, and show you all the wonderful uses for these amazing machines---adding a professional shine to all your projects.

      

Spring Flings at Kalamazoo Sewing Center!

Have a Spring Fling!

We have special no interest financing of up to 48 months---4 years on selected models for a limited time---hurry in before this deal disappears. 

Add a serger to your sewing studio, free classes, and luggage carrier free! 

The Huskylock Sergers bring added convenience and professional results to any sewing room. Sergers create professional, finished seams to garments and allow you to get those results in a fraction of the time it takes with a regular machine. Finish edges on home decor items professionally each and every time! And now, not only a free class but free luggage to carry your machine is included!

Embroidery designs on sale at myembroideries.com starting April 1st!

Don't forget to tell them that we're your favorite store!

Events--Won't You Join Us?

 

**Please see store for complete details for all as additional restrictions may apply.

Join us for National Quilting Month this March

           

	Store Events |  Website | Kalamazoo Sews Blog
	March is National Quilting Month! Won't you join us? We have lots of great quilting projects planned. Need a new machine? Notions to take your creativity to new hights? Come see us! Events--Won't You Join Us? Sincerely Yours Quilt---a beautiful, classic quilt and we're still welcoming new students! Call to register and come join us March 20th to create this stunning quilt. Learn to applique and stitch the Floral Applique Quilt---one block at a time, one block per month. There's a different flower to plant every month---March 1. What a way to start out National Quilting Month! Quilting offers opportunities to pick up sewing skills and practice them until you're a pro. The stitcher's garden applique quilts are an excellent example of learning new skills a bit at a time and stitching up a sweet quilt all your own at the same time. This quilt offers lessons on different feet that are available and/or that came with your machine. Make perfect stitches, sew perfect ruffles, sew buttons, buttonholes, use your decorative stitches---learn how with our Applique Quilt classes. Just look at this gorgeous quilt top by Terri M. Smith!   Please see our class schedule for the times for this quilt. Get a Shopping Spree March 1 through March 31!** Buy a Designer Diamond Deluxe and get a $500 shopping spree for notions, threads, additional hoops, and tools to take your creativity to the limit!    Or buy a Designer Ruby Deluxe in March and receive a $300 in store shopping spree to help you with your first projects!Hurry in this offer won't last! And remember our sewing machines come with free classes to help you take advantage of all your machine's new features!     **Please see store for complete details for all as additional restrictions may apply.	Kalamazoo Sewing Center: 5401 Portage Rd., Suite 6 Portage, MI 49002 (269)342-5808 Fax: (269) 342-0456 email: mail@kalamazoosews.com Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30-5:30, Saturday 9:30-1 Closed Sunday Class schedule is subject to change. Please give us a call if the weather is inclement. New Feet to help you with your quilting: Share and Chat with us:

Classes add a Bit of Design Embellishment and Inspiration

Project design packages sometimes don't do justice to the actual project that you can create with them. One thing great about taking a class is that you get so many great ideas to make projects really pop from our managers and sewing instructors. For example look how this tree just pops with  sparkle just by adding a couple of adjustments in color and decoration. Simply beautiful and much more inspiring than the package don't you think?

Another great design is the Tree-mendous 3D Christmas Tree Design. Here's the package:

And here's the in store inspiration:



 Another plus that you get from taking a class is that it's just plain fun getting together, creating, bouncing ideas around and sharing inspiration. In this way quilts that are from the same design end up looking completely different, all the creator's project; wonderful results from the same design. Take a look at these two Christmas Town quilts:

These are so different and so inspiring! The first in blue and white---like a mid winter night---so fun just like Christmas Eve. The second one in red and gold with a black frame--such an original color choice for this elegant artistic treatment.

So whether it's beginning sewing your looking for or just to hone your expert skills and experience, you'll have fun, pick up tips, and become more creative---call the sewing center today and sign up for one of our fun holiday classes.     



     

   

Machine Quilting

One of the best ways to learn how to sew is to piece a quilt. By the time you've pieced your first quilt top you'll know how to sew a straight stitch. If your top has a bit of applique, you'll be the master of curves, fancy stitches, and those supplemental feet that came with your feet.

And all these skills learned will transfer into other sewing that you do whether it's home decor or designer fashions for your family.

If you've been to any of the great quilting classes at the sewing center lately, you probably have some quilt tops done. If you're the average customer, you are daunted by the next step: the quilt sandwich and putting it all together with machine quilting. At the sewing center we have special classes where we gather together to put our quilts together. It's a job where you may need an extra pair of hands and room to work and we're here to help.

Stitching in the ditch

The most important step in quilting your quilt is basting the sandwich layers together. Sewing Center experts recommend spray basting as the best way to sandwich your quilt components prior to quilting. But if you don't like the spray or have allergies, we have special pins for pin basting or you can baste with a needle and thread. Whichever way you baste, be sure to take your time to get all the layers smoothly together. This will make the rest of the quilting process easy and fun.

Even Feed Foot really helps quilting

One of the easiest quilting techniques is the stitch in the ditch method. This is where most quilters start because it requires a simple straight stitch around the quilt squares. There are special stitch in the ditch feet with flanges that ride the seam to keep your stitches straight. If you're having issues controlling your quilt, try an even feed foot as a tool to keep your quilt straight and evenly fed through the machine.


As you become more experienced you can begin exploring the quilting options your machine gives you. For example, the new Designer Ruby Deluxe has a number of built in quilting stitches that can make the quilting as creative and fun as piecing your quilt. And with these stitches the actual quilting of your quilt becomes less intimidating.



Designer Ruby Deluxe Quilting Stitches



More fun Designer Ruby Deluxe Stitches 

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Your Singer Sewing Machines also have many fun stitches for quilting also.

Singer 7469Q Confidence Quilter 









7469Q Stitches

The best way to try all these fun quilting stitches is to enroll in a sewing center class to  make a pillow topper. A fun, smaller project will bring out the designer in you and will provide courage and experience to tackle those large quilt projects that await you in the sewing room.

The best way to learn sewing is take a class at the sewing center and we have some really great classes planned for this holiday season. Won't you join us, take some time to relax with us and make a few gifts or decorations that are just you. It would be so awesome to help you create a wonderful holiday season for you and your family!



Holiday Season Classes

We have some exciting classes planned for next week as we head into the holiday season. Be sure to call today to reserve your spot for one of these fun projects:        Monday, Nov. 5, Quiet Book 1-4pm Tuesday, Nov. 6, Double Diamond Christmas Tree Wall Hanging 1-4pm Wednesday, Nov. 7,  Snowman Applique Wall Hanging 1-4pm Wednesday, Nov. 7, 5D Group 3 1-3 Thursday, Nov. 8, Sincerely Yours 6-9 Friday, Nov. 9, 5D Group 4 1-3     **Just a reminder that all our instructors suffer with allergies, we appreciate you NOT wearing scented lotion or perfume to class!  Thank you.**     To View all Store Events |  Website